Construction methods for swimming pools



Jan. 15, 1963 R. c. HEGERFELD 3,072,921

CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR SWIMMING POOLS Filed Aug. 10, 1960 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR RICHARD C. HEGERFELD ATTORNEY Jan. 15, 1963 R.c. HEGERFELD CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR SWIMMING POOLS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Aug. 10, 1960 INVENTOR RICHARD C. HEGERFELD Jan. 15, 1963 R. c.HEGERFELD CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR SWIMMING POOLS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledAug. 10, 1960 warn INVENTOR RCHARD C. HEGERFELD ATTORNEY United StatesThis invention relates to swimming pools and methods of constructingsuch pools, and particularly to swimming pools having sidewalls of fiberglass or like material.

It is an object of this invention to provide a construction andconstruction methods for swimming pools wherein the sidewalls arecomprised of reinforced fiber glass panels or like material.

It is another object of the invention to provide a construction forswimming pools wherein the fiber glass sidewall panels are securelyanchored by supports seated in concrete and the dirt fill on the outerside of the panel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction forswimming pools wherein the fiber glass sidewalls provide greatflexibility for various sizes and shapes of swimming pools, and tofurther provide for simple repair or replacement of sidewalls in theevent of damage thereto.

An additional object of my invention is to provide swimnnng pools whichare relatively inexpensive and which can be easily installed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction for swimmingpools which readily comply with sanitary and safety requirements ofvarious local and other building codes.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious from thefollowing detailed description of one embodiment thereof, and theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top view of the swimming pool sidewalls showingthe support members and means for securing the fiber glass panelstogether.

FIG. 2 is a side view partially in section of the panel with concretebase and coping and support members.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view partially in section of the panel withconcrete base and coping and support members and drain when a scumgutter is provided.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top view of a fiber glass panel showing the pipesupport member secured thereto.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a preferred method of securing the fiber glasspanels together.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a modified method of securing the fiber glasspanels together.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side view, partially in sectionshowing the connection of support members at the upper portion of thepanel.

FIG. 8 is a sectional side view of coping molding for the sidewallpanels.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side view of the soil excavation of the poolshowing the concrete forming preparatory to placement of the fiber glassside panels.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side view of the erection of the fiber glasspanel.

FIG. 11 is an end view of a modified molding material for securing thefiber glass panels together.

The swimming pool may be of any desired shape, such as rectangular,round, oval, kidney-shaped and so forth, because of the flexibility ofthe fiber glass sheets forming the wall of the pool. After the shape andsize of the pool is determined, the soil 10a may be excavated. Near theedge 11 of the entire perimeter of the pool the excavation is preferablya depth of about three feet from the surface 12 of the soil and extendsas a gradually sloping ledge -13 for about two feet to a point 13a whichhas a depth of approximately 3 /2 feet from the surface 12 of soil atentO 3,072,921 Patented Jan. 15, 1963 19a. The exacavation 14 of the soilmay then be deepened as desired toward the center of the pool, withrecess 15 containing crushed rock, at the lowest depth for the maindrain 16 and hydrostatic relief valve 17, with drain pipe 18.

Stakes 19 are then driven in the sloped area 13 as shown in FIG. 9around the perimeter of the poolexcavation at a distance of about onefoot apart. A continuous form 29, preferably of plywood about 3% inchesin width and 4 inch thick (i.e., the thickness of the fiber glass) isfastened to the upper ends of stakes 19 by nails 21 and extends aroundthe perimeter of the pool. The lower edge 22 of form 29 is to be on aneven horizontal plane. Base shoe mold 23 having a quarter round shape isnailed or otherwise secured to the top of form 20 as shown in FIG. 9.After hooking up the drain pipe 18, reinforcement bars or wire mesh 24are laid along the bottom of the excavation, the upper end 25 extendingoutside the periphery of form 20.

The concrete floor 26 of the pool is then laid. It is important that theupper edge 27 of the concrete be approximately level with the top edge28 of base shoe mold 23. A quantity of concrete 29 from this firstpouring should also be placed behind stake 19 as indicated in FIG. 9.

After the concrete of such first pouring has been allowed to set, thetop 30 of the stakes 19 which are nailed to form 20 are cut off at 32from the portion 31 of the stakes 19. The form 20 with the base shoemold 23 is then carefully removed, leaving an indent 33 at the upperedge 27 of the concrete and a slot 34 between the concrete 26 and theremaining portion 31 of stake 19.

The lower portion 35 of fiber glass panels 36 are then set into theslots 34 between concrete 26 and portion 31 of stake 19. The panels mustbe level and carefully plumbed. It may be held in position by notchedstrips 37a which may be driven into the soil bank. The fiber glasspanels are set side by side around the perimeter of the excavation,preferably about /2 inch apart.

The panels 36 are spliced together by a splice assembly consisting of afacing strip 39 of aluminum, chrome or other suitable materials thatwill not readily oxidize or deteriorate, an inner gasket 40 and an outergasket 41 of neoprene or similar material, a backing plate 42 which maybe a channel iron foradditional strength as shown in FIG. 5. Facingstrip 39 is secured to backing plate 42 by inset screws 43 at variousintervals. When screws 43 are tightened, a water-tight seal is createdat the joints of the side edges 36a of fiber glass panels 36.

A modified splice assembly is shown in FIG. 6 wherein facing strip 44has-a greater curvature or more oval shape than facing strip 39. Afurther modified means of splicing the fiber glass is illustrated inFIG. 11, wherein as hereinafter described, a double-notched molding 82is used.

The final or last fiber glass panel to be fitted into the pool sidewall35 may be cut with a saw to fit the remaining opening in the wall,thereby enclosing the pool area 46.

Fiber glass panel 36 has vertical pipe support members 37, preferablythree on each panel, which are secured by a U-shaped fiber glass strip38 which is fused or otherwise secured to fiber glass panel 36.

Each of the support members 37 is equipped with a reinforcing bar 47,preferably of steel, having curved upper and lower end portions 43 and49, respectively, which hook into the respective upper and lower ends 50and 51 of pipe support members 37. The base portion 52 of reinforcingbar 47 extends horizontally back from pipe support member, turningupward to form a vertical portion 53 and then extending diagonally at 54to upper end 50 of reinforcing bar 47. Base portion 52 is anchored towire mesh 24 by wire 54.

.Inorder/to furnish additional support, a strengthening reinforcing bar55 isused having a long vertical side 56, a short horizontal side 57 anda short projecting end 58 at right angles, and onthe same horizontalplane as side 57. Short projecting end58 extends'under the curvature 59of reinforcing bar 47, and is wired to the latter by Wire 60. Thevertical side of strengthening bar 55 is likewise wired to reinforcingbar 47 by wire 61. Preferably strengthening bars 55 are so used with thesupport members -37 located nearest the outer edges of glass fiberpanels 36, as shown in FIG. 1.

Where as scum gutter is desired, or is required by local ordinance, ascum gutter reinforcing bar 62, which may be partially enclosed in pipesleeve 63, is secured to strengthening bar 55 by wires 64 and 65. Thescum gutter reinforcing bar 62 has along diagonally extending side64,.a'horizontal side 65 and a relatively short vertical side ,66. 'Side66 may be partially enclosed in a collar .67.

After the reinforcing bars 47 and strengthening bars 55, and wheredesired, scum gutter reinforcing bars 62 have been positioned as shownin FIGS. 2 and 3, concrete is .pouredbehind a portion of the glass fiberpanels 36 to cover portion 31 of stakes 19, the lower portion 35 of thefiber glass panel, the lower portions of reinforcing bars 47,strengthening bars 55 and scum gutter reinforcing bars'62, and extendingabove the lower end 51 of pipe support members 37, to the approximateconcrete level 68 asshown in FIGS. 2 and. 3.

'Indent 33 is, filled with a grout of water and cement 68a to withinabout /2 inch from the top. Thereafter the upper portion of indent 33 isfilled with a rubber water seal 68b to provide a good water seal.

After concrete 68 has set, the supporting strips 37a may be removed andcoping molding 69, which may be plastic, aluminum or other suitablematerial, is applied around the top 36b of the fiber glass panels 36.The area 70 behind fiber glass panels 36 isthen filled with sand andgravel 70 and compacted. Concrete coping 71 with reinforcement wires 72is laid on top of the fill 70 against the back face 73 of coping molding69, to cover the top portions of reinforcing bars 47 and strengtheningbars 55, as shown in FIG. 2.

Where scum gutter is provided, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the scum gutterconcrete coping 74 is sloped downward from the back face 73 of copingmolding 69 toward drains 75 which has outlet 76 to filter (not shown). Astrip 77 of fiber glass is located between collar 67 and the inlet 78 ofdrains 75 and sealed in place by the concrete coping -74 behind andbetween drain inlets78. After the concrete coping 74 has set the scumgutter coping molding 79, which is similar to coping molding 69, isapplied to the top of fiber glassstrips 77. Outer coping 80 havingreinforcement wires 81 is then laid against the back face 79a of molding79 to cover the upper portions of the scum gutterreinforcing bar 62 andcollar 67 as shown in FIG. 3

FIG. 11 showsthe end view of a modified molding 82 with a groove 83between extending edges 84 and 85, and

V groove 86 between extending edges 87 and 88. The respective side'edges36a of the fiber glass panels 36-are extended into grooves 83 and 86.Molding 82 is composed of plastic, fibercomposition or similar materialthat will provide awater tight seal between the fiber glass panels 36and molding 82'extends the length of the panels. It is to be understoodthat the present invention is not confined to the particularconstruction, arrangement of parts or methods herein illustrated, butembraces all such modifications and alterations thereof, as may comewithin the scope of the following claims} claim:

1. A method for constructing an outdoor swimming pool havingsidescomposed of individual panels comprising, excavating the earth forthe swimming pool area, providing 'a sloping ledgearound the perimeterof the said panels,

pool area, constructing a concrete form over said ledge for said panels,laying concrete for the floor of the pool and on the forward, rearwardand bottom sides of said form, removing the concrete form and placingthe lower portion of the panels in the slot provided by the concreteform, joining the individualpanels in substantial vertical alignment,securing reinforcing bars to the rear of the panels, laying concretebehind the lower portion of said panels to cover the lower and baseportions of the reinforcing bars, compacting fill material behind thepanels, attaching coping molding to the upper portion of said panels,providing a coping behind said coping molding.

2. A method for constructing an outdoor swimming pool having sidescomposed of individual panels comprising, excavating the earth for theswimming pool area, providing a sloping ledge around the perimeter ofthe pool area, constructing a concrete form over said ledge for thelower portion of said panels, laying concrete for the floor of the pooland on the forward, rearward and bottom sides of said form, removing theconcrete form and placing the lower portion of the panels in the slotprovided by the concrete form, joining the individual panels insubstantial vertical alignment, securing reinforcing bars which extendthe approximate length of said panels to the rear of the panels, layingconcrete behind the lower portion of said panels to cover the lower andbase portions of the panels and reinforcing bars, compacting fillmaterial oversaid concrete behind the panels, attaching coping moldingto the upper portion of said panels, laying concrete coping behind saidcoping molding, said concrete coping to incorporate the upper portionsof the reinforcing bars, sealing the junction of the lower portion ofsaid panels and the floor of the pool.

3. A method for constructing an outdoor swimming pool having sidescomposed of individual panels comprising, excavating the earth for theswimming pool area, providing a sloping ledge around the perimeter ofthe pool area, constructing a concrete formover saidledge for saidpanels, laying concrete for the floor of the pool and on the forward,rearward and bottom sides of said form, removing the concrete form andplacing the lower portion of the panels in the slot provided by theconcrete form, joining the individual panels in substantial vertical,alignment, securing reinforcing bars to the rear of the panels,securing scum gutter reinforcing bars to said other reinforcingbars,laying concrete behind they lower portion of said panels to cover thelower and base portions of the reinforcing bars and scum gutterreinforcing bars, compacting fill material behind the panels, attachingcoping molding to the upper portion of said panels, providing a copingbehind said coping moldin and providing a scum gutter by placing araised outer coping behind said coping.

4. A method for constructing an outdoor swimming pool having sidescomposed of individual panels comprising, excavating the earth for theswimming pool area, providinga sloping ledge around the perimeter of thepool area, constructing a pool drain at the deepest part of theexcavated pool area, constructing .a concrete form over said ledge forsaid panels, laying concrete for the fioor of the pool and on theforward, rearward and bottom sides of said form, removing the concreteform and placing the lower portion of the panels in the slot provided bythe concrete form, holding the panels in position with notched stripsdriven into the soil bank behind the panels, joining the individualpanels in substantial vertical alignment, securing reinforcing bars tothe rearof the panels, securing strengthening reinforcement bars to saidother reinforcement bars, laying concrete behind the lower portion ofsaid panels to cover the, lower and base portions of the reinforcingbars, compacting fill material behind the panels, attaching copingmolding to the upper portion of providing a coping behind said copingmolding.

5. A method for constructing an outdoor swimming pool having sidescomposed of individual panels comprising, excavating the earth for theswimming pool area, providing a sloping ledge around the perimeter ofthe pool area, constructing a concrete form over said ledge for saidpanels, laying concrete for the floor of the pool and on the forward,rearward and bottom sides of said form, removing the concrete form andplacing the lower portion of the panels in the slot provided by theconcrete form, joining the individual panels in substantial verticalalignment, securing reinforcing bars to the rear of the panels, securingscum gutter reinforcing bars to said other reinforcing bars, layingconcrete behind the lower portion of said panels to cover the lower andbase portions of the reinforcing bars and scum gutter reinforcing bars,compacting fill material behind the panels, attaching coping molding tothe upper portion of said panels, providing a coping behind said copingmolding, constructing a plurality of drains along the rear edge of thecoping, providin a scum gutter by placing substantially vertical stripsin edge to edge abutment along the rear edge of the coping, attachingscum gutter coping molding to the upper portions of said strips,providing an outer coping behind said scum gutter coping molding.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,908,332 Eichelman et al. May 9, 1933 2,488,708 Clemetsen Nov. 22, 19492,873,505 Sheldon Feb. 17, 1959 2,887,759 Brownell May 26, 19593,015,191 Lucchesi Jan. 2, 1962

1. A METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING AN OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOL HAVING SIDESCOMPOSED OF INDIVIDUAL PANELS COMPRISING, EXCAVATING THE EARTH FOR THESWIMMING POOL AREA, PROVIDING A SLOPING LEDGE AROUND THE PERIMETER OFTHE POOL AREA, CONSTRUCTING A CONCRETE FORM OVER SAID LEDGE FOR SAIDPANELS, LAYING CONCRETE FOR THE FLOOR OF THE POOL AND ON THE FORWARD,REARWARD AND BOTTOM SIDES OF SAID FORM, REMOVING THE CONCRETE FORM ANDPLACING THE LOWER PORTION OF THE PANELS IN THE SLOT PROVIDED BY THECONCRETE FORM, JOINING THE INDIVIDUAL PANELS IN SUBSTANTIAL VERTICALALIGNMENT, SECURING REINFORCING BARS TO THE REAR OF THE PANELS, LAYINGCONCRETE BEHIND THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID PANELS TO COVER THE LOWER ANDBASE PORTIONS OF THE REINFORCING BARS, COMPACTING FILL MATERIAL BEHINDTHE PANELS, ATTACHING COPING MOLDING TO THE UPPER PORTION OF SAIDPANELS, PROVIDING A COPING BEHIND SAID COPING MOLDING.